JPH11147075A - Paper sheet sorting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a paper sheet sorting apparatus capable of rapidly performing routing and sorting work rearranging letters (e.g. mails) each having an address such as a bar code entered therein in delivery order. SOLUTION: Three stages 1', 1", 1"' of supply and accumulation means 1 used both as letter supply parts and accumulation parts sorting and accumulating letters in an almost upright position are provided and, in first sorting, one stage is set to a supply mode and other two stages are set to an accumulation mode. If letters to be rearranged can be accumulated in one stage of the supply and accumulation means 1, in second sorting, two stages are set to a supply mode and other one stage is set to an accumulation mode. Next, one stage is set to a supply mode and other one stage is set to an accumulation mode to complete rearrangement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper sheet sorting apparatus for rearranging randomly arranged paper sheets in a desired order.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Mail delivery route assembling work for rearranging mails in the order of delivery according to their destinations has relied on manual labor. It was desired. International Publication No. W097 / 07902 (Document 1) discloses a device that reads sorting information provided on paper sheets such as mails and rearranges inserted paper sheets in an order specified by the sorting information. Such a sheet sorting apparatus is known.

According to this document, in order to rearrange the order of randomly stacked paper sheets, it is necessary to rearrange the stacked paper sheets a plurality of times. After the paper sheets are rearranged once, the supply means of the supply / stacking means is switched to the stacking means, and the stacking means in which the rearranged paper sheets are stacked is transferred from the stacking means to the supply means. It is described that the sorting (rearrangement) is repeated by switching to, and the inserted sheets are rearranged in the order specified by the section information, so that a large number of sheets can be rearranged, and It is described that a high-speed sheet sorting apparatus can be configured. The outline of the operation of Literature 1 will be described below.

[0004] In the above-mentioned document 1, a method is used in which the sorting of paper sheets is repeated three times for the same paper sheets to rearrange the paper sheets.

[0005] Supply and accumulation means are provided at three places, for example, 100
In order to rearrange 2,000 sheets at zero address, the first supply / accumulation unit is switched to the supply unit, and the second and third supply / accumulation units are switched to the accumulation unit. And the first of the supply means
After the sheets fed into the feeding / accumulating means are separated one by one by a first separating means provided at one end of the first feeding / accumulating means, the sorting information given in advance to the sheets is read. . Then, based on the sorting information, the sorting unit is sorted into the stacking units of the second and third supply stacking units switched to the stacking unit.
At this time, paper sheets having addresses of 0 to 499 out of the 1000 addresses are sorted into the stacking section of the second supply stacking means, and 50
Sheets of destinations 0 to 999 are classified into the stacking section of the third supply stacking means.

[0006] In this way, when the 2,000 first divisions are completed, the first supply / accumulation means is switched from the supply means to the accumulation means, and the second supply / accumulation means is switched from the accumulation means to the supply means. Switch. Then, after the sheets stacked on the second supply accumulating means switched to the supply means are separated one by one by the second separating means provided at one end of the second supply accumulating means, While reading the sorting information given in advance to the paper sheets, based on the sorting information,
It is divided into the accumulation section of the first supply accumulation means switched to the accumulation means. In this way, the second sorting of the paper sheets of the addresses 0 to 499 is completed.

Next, the second supply / accumulation means is switched from the supply means to the accumulation means, and the first supply / accumulation means is switched from the accumulation means to the supply means. Then, the sheets stacked in the first supply accumulating means switched to the supply means are separated by the first separating means provided at one end of the first supply accumulating means into one sheet.
After the sheets are separated one by one, the sorting information pre-assigned to the sheets is read, and based on the sorting information, the sheet is sorted into the stacking unit of the second feeding stacking unit switched to the stacking unit. This completes the third division of the addresses 0 to 499,
In other words, the sorting of the paper sheets of the addresses 0 to 499 is completed.

Using the first supply accumulating means and the third supply accumulating means, the fourth and fifth sorting operations are performed in the same manner as the sorting of the paper sheets of the addresses 0 to 499, and 500 to
Reordering of the 999 destinations is completed.

[0009]

In the document 1, as described above, five sorts are required for rearranging 2,000 sheets of paper at 1000 destinations. The five sorting times are the same regardless of the number of sheets that need to be rearranged. For this reason, there is a problem that even if the number of sheets to be rearranged is 1000 or less, the time required for the reordering is not about half of the time required for rearranging 2000 sheets.

In the case where the number of sheets to be rearranged is surely 1000 or less, if the rearrangement is performed using only the first and second supply / accumulation means, the rearrangement is completed in three times and the time required for rearrangement is reduced. It is possible to reduce it. But,
The operator judges that the number is 1000 or less by visual inspection,
When a mode in which rearrangement is performed using only the supply accumulating unit is selected, when 1000 or more sheets are input,
When the stacking unit is full, paper sheets that cannot be stacked on the stacking unit are rejected, and there is a problem that sheets that cannot be rearranged are generated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet sorting apparatus which can sort sheets at high speed according to the number of sheets which need to be sorted without generating sheets which cannot be sorted. Is to provide.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a stacking mode in which a plurality of sheets stacked on another sorting shelf are stacked while being sorted, and a plurality of sheets stacked on another sorting shelf. And three supply shelves having a supply mode for supplying to the shelves. When rearranging the order of the stacked sheets, any two of the three compartments are set to the supply mode. ,
This is achieved by providing control means for setting one device to the integration mode.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a plurality of stacking units, each of which can hold the paper sheets 2 sorted and stacked for each stacking unit in an upright position, and pushes the stacked paper sheets 2. A first supply accumulating means (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a divisional shelf) provided with a transfer means capable of moving in the direction of the arrow A while the divisional shelf also has a supply mechanism unless otherwise specified. There is also a case where the collecting means is simply referred to as a collecting means.

The first supply / accumulation means is in the accumulation mode when accumulating the conveyed paper sheets 2 and is in the supply mode when the paper sheets 2 are moved by the transfer means.
It is assumed that mode switching can be performed. The details of this mode switching operation will be described in detail separately.
1 ′, 1 ″ have the same configuration, and the second supply accumulating means and the third
Supply and accumulation means.

Reference numeral 4 denotes first separating means which can separate only one sheet at the right end of the paper sheets 2 placed on the first supply accumulating means 1 and convey it downward. Such a sheet separating means is generally a suction type using a vacuum suction belt. The vacuum chamber 5 is negatively pressed to suction the sheets 2 to the suction belt 6, and the suction belt 6 is electrically driven by, for example, an electric motor. By rotating using such a driving means, only one sheet at the right end of the sheets 2 can be separated and conveyed.

Reference numerals 4 'and 4 "denote a second separating means and a third separating means having the same structure. A transport means 17 transports the paper sheets 2 separated by the first separating means 4. Reference numerals 17 'and 17 "denote conveying means for conveying the paper sheets 2 separated by the second and third separating means 4' and 4", respectively.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a conveying means which can convey the paper sheets 2, and conveys the paper sheets 2 conveyed by the conveying means 17, 17 ', 17 "together. The paper sheets 2 separated by any one of the separating means 4, 4 ', 4 "are conveyed, for example, with the front and back sandwiched between belts. Reference numeral 21 denotes thickness detecting means for measuring the thickness of the letter. Reference numeral 8 denotes a posture correcting means for correcting the position and inclination of the letter. Reference numeral 9 denotes reading means for reading section information, such as a bar code, which is given to the paper sheet 2 in advance. Reference numeral 10 denotes a reject stacking box for stacking the sheets 2 whose posture has not been sufficiently corrected by the posture correcting means 8, for example.

13, 13 'and 13 "sort the paper sheets 2 to any one of the stacking units of the feeding stacking units 1, 1' and 1" in the stacking mode in accordance with the sorting information read by the reading unit 9. The first, second, and third sorting means to be fed. Reference numerals 15 and 15 'are in the middle of the transporting means 7 for transporting the paper sheets 2 from which the sorting information 20 has been read. Gate means for sorting to the means 1, 1 ', 1 ". Reference numeral 18 denotes a reject box, which accumulates paper sheets whose sorting information could not be read by the reading means 9. Reference numeral 19 denotes selection of an operation mode and start of operation. Is an operation panel for the operator to input the information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the reading means 9 and the sorting information given in advance to the sheets constituting the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 9a denotes a bar code reading unit which is inside the reading unit 9 and is capable of reading a bar code BAR representing a number or a symbol depending on the length of the bar, and 9b is read by the bar code reading unit 9a. Decoding means 20 capable of decoding the barcode BAR into the original number or symbol, 20 is the segment information decoded and represented by the original number or symbol.

FIG. 3 shows a supply / accumulation means 1 constituting the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of the configuration of a sorting unit 13. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 30a, 30b, 30c,... Indicate divided stacking units S1, S2, S3,.
Is a partition that separates 31 is a part of the transport path 7,
It is a belt that conveys the paper sheet 2 and moves in the direction of arrow 32. Reference numeral 33 denotes a pulley for driving the belt 31. Reference numerals 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d denote pulleys. A belt 40 is wound between the pulleys 34a and 34b and rotates in the direction of the arrow 42. A belt 41 is wound between 34c and 34d and rotates in the direction of arrow 43.

Here, the pulley 34a holds the paper sheet 2 between the belt 31 and the belt 31 via the belt 40, and conveys the paper sheet 2 in the direction of the arrow 44 with the movement of the belts 40 and 41. Can be thrown in. Reference numeral 37 denotes a press for appropriately pressing the sheets 2 put into the stacking section in the stacking section against the partition 30 in the direction of arrow K to collect the sheets 2 along the partition 30. , Rotating shaft 3
This is a configuration that rotates around the center 8.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a switching gate for distributing the sheets 2 sandwiched between the belt 30 and the rollers 34 and conveyed from the direction of the arrow 32 to predetermined stacking units S1, S2, S3,. In addition, it can rotate around the rotation center 36 by a predetermined angle.

Here, for example, when the switching gate 35 is 3
When the sheet 2 is at a position substantially parallel to the belt 31 as shown in 5a or 35b, the sheet 2
The sheet is conveyed to the switching gate 35c between the belts 31 and 5a and 35b. Here, the switching gate 35
By rotating c by a predetermined angle around the rotation center 36c so that the tip of the switching gate 35c is closer to the pulley 33 than the belt 31, as shown in the sheet 2 ', the sheet 2' It passes through the supply and accumulation means 1 of 35c and is fed into the accumulation section S3.

By providing such a configuration continuously in the longitudinal direction of the supply accumulating means 1 at intervals P, the required number of accumulating sections can be used to divide the accumulating means 1 into, for example, 16 accumulating sections. . The paper sheets 2 ″ sorted into the respective stacking sections are arranged along the partitions 30 of the respective stacking sections S1 to S16, are appropriately pressed against the partitions 30 by the holding members 37, and are almost in a standing position while being inclined. It is integrated in.

Next, the process of reordering the paper sheets 2 (delivery route assembling operation) according to the present invention will be described below. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a delivery route assembling operation of the paper sheet 2 in the paper sheet sorting apparatus. Classification information 2 for explanation
The content of 0 is represented by a two-digit number from 00 to 99, and 100 sheets 2 to which the sorting information 20 from 00 to 99 arranged irregularly are added,
(Delivery route assembling operation). Here, the operation of each component will not be described in detail, and only the arrangement of the sorting information 20 in the process of rearranging the paper sheets 2 will be described.

In FIG. 4, 40, 41... 48, 49
Correspond to the ten accumulation units of the first supply accumulation means 1, and each accumulation unit is associated with a number from 0 to 9. It is assumed that the conveyed paper sheets 2 are sorted into the stacking unit according to the respective sort information 20.
First, at the time of the first division, the accumulation units 40, 41,.
To 8 and 49, 0 to 9 of the first place of the sorting information are sequentially assigned.

Next, the supplied paper sheets 2 are separated and taken out one by one, and the stacking unit 4 is determined according to the first place of the sorting information.
0, 41,..., 48, 49. Then, each of the accumulation units 40, 41,.
In 9, paper sheets 2 that are the same only in the first place of the sorting information are accumulated. Here, the tens place is not aligned.

At the time of the second division, the accumulation units 40 and 41
…………………………………………………………………………………………… 48, 49
Assign. Here, the sheets 2 that have been subjected to the first sorting are separated from the sheets 2 that have been stacked in the stacking section 40 one by one in order without changing the order. Accumulators 40 ', 4
1 '... 48' or 49 '. First, only the paper sheets 2 taken out of the stacking unit 40 and having the first digit of 0 are stacked by the tens digit in the stacking unit 40 '.
To 49 '. Next, the sheet 2 with the first place taken out of the stacking section 41 is sorted and put into any of the stacking sections 40 ′ to 49 ′ according to the tens place, and Stack on top.

Similarly, paper sheets 2 in which the first place is 2 to 9
Are sequentially separated and taken out, and the collecting section 4
Distribute to any of 0 'to 49' and throw in. When the sorting of all the paper sheets 2 is completed, the paper sheets 2 with the sorting information of 00 to 09 are sequentially stacked in the stacking unit 40 ', and the paper sheets with the sorting information of 90 to 99 are stacked in the stacking unit 49'. The leaves 2 are accumulated in order. Here, if all the sheets 2 stacked in the stacking units 40 'to 49' are taken out in order, all the sheets are in a state where the sorting information is rearranged in the order of 00 to 99.

In the above description, 100 from 00 to 99
Although the example in which the rearrangement operation is performed by repeating the division into ten accumulation units twice has been described, this operation is not limited to this, and the number of accumulation units is U and the number of repetitions is n. For example, it is possible to perform U rearrangement in the nth power. For example, if U = 10 and n = 3, 1000 sorts can be performed.

Such a rearrangement procedure can be realized by providing means for separating the sheets once sorted into the stacking section and repeating the sorting so as not to change the order. And a supply mode in which the sheets stacked inside are separately stacked and a supply mode in which the sheets stacked inside are supplied to the separating means so that the order is not changed. The sheets may be separated again and the division may be repeated.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the paper sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, a reading means control means 61 controls the reading means 9. The mode switching control unit 64 controls an operation of switching between a supply mode in which the letters of the supply accumulation unit 1 are supplied to the separation unit 4 and an accumulation mode in which the transported letters are sorted and accumulated. The gate means control means 65 comprises gate means 15, 15 '.
And the distribution control means 66 controls the distribution means 13,
13 ', 13 ", and the supply means control means 68 controls the supply accumulation means 1, 1', 1" in the supply mode.

The separation means control means 67 includes the separation means 4,
4 ', 4 ". The section information input means 71 can input the section information of the sheet 2. The letter thickness taking-in means 72 is the thickness of the sheet 2 measured by the thickness detecting means. The sorting shelf selecting means 73 determines which of the supply accumulating means 1,
This is a means for taking in a signal as to whether or not to perform the route assembling operation using 1 ', 1 ". The signal is given by the operator from the operation panel 19, for example.

The control means 60 controls the reading control means 6
1, mode switching control means 64, gate means control means 65, distribution control means 66, separation means control means 67,
It controls the supply means control means 68, the sorting information input means 71, the letter thickness taking-in means 72, and the sorting shelf selection signal taking-in means 73.

Next, a description will be given of a route assembling operation for rearranging about 1000 to 2,000 sheets of paper sheets 2 into a delivery order of about 1000 delivery destinations, with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of an example of the route assembling operation. FIG. 7 shows first to third supply / accumulation means 1, 1 ', 1 ".
The figure which shows the number of the accumulation part in the accumulation mode of. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing an example of a route assembling operation in the section shelf 2.5-stage mode. 10 to 16 are diagrams showing the progress of the route assembling operation in the section shelf 2.5-stage mode.

It is assumed that about 100 sheets can be accumulated in each accumulation section of each supply and accumulation means 1, 1 ', 1 ". It should be performed repeatedly.

First, the operator measures the number of paper sheets 2 to be rearranged and selects a sorting shelf. If the number certainly exceeds 1000, that is, if the number does not fit into the 10 stacking units when sorted, the three-stage section shelf mode is selected, and if the number is surely 1000 or less, That is, if the number falls within the range of 10 stacking units at the time of sorting, the section shelf 2-stage mode is selected, and if it is unclear whether the number exceeds 1000, the section shelf 2.5-stage mode is selected. (Procedure 100). Then, a route assembly operation start switch provided on the operation panel 19 or the like is pressed. Thus, the control means 60 starts controlling the route assembling operation.

First, it is determined whether or not the selection of the sorting shelves is the three-stage sorting shelf mode (step 101). If the mode is the three-stage sorting shelf mode, the first supply / accumulation means 1 is set to the supply mode, and the second mode is set. The supply / accumulation means 1 'and the third supply / accumulation means 1 "are set to the accumulation mode (step 102). A class 2 route assembling operation is performed (procedure 103). The contents of the route assembling operation at this time are exactly the same as the contents of the route assembling operation described in Document 1, for example, and thus the detailed contents are omitted here. Then, in the route assembly operation at this time,
As described in the section of the related art, five segmenting operations are required.

If it is determined in step 101 that the section shelf is not selected in the section shelf three-stage mode, the process proceeds to step 104.
It is determined whether the selection of the sorting shelves is the two-stage sorting shelves mode. If the mode is the two-stage sorting shelves mode, the first supply accumulating means 1 is set to the supply mode, and the second supply accumulating means 1 'is set to the accumulation mode. Set (procedure 105). Then, the route assembling operation of the paper sheets 2 is performed using only the first and second supply accumulation means 1 and 1 '(step 106).

That is, when the letters to be rearranged are 1000 letters or less, all letters can be accumulated in the accumulation section of one supply accumulation means, and therefore, the first and second supply accumulation means 1, 1 '.
Using only one, a route assembling operation is possible. The contents of this route assembling operation are also the same as those in the first half of the three-segment shelf mode.
Since the contents of the time division operation are almost the same, detailed contents are omitted here. Then, in the route assembling operation at this time, the rearrangement is completed by three sorting operations.

If it is determined in step 104 that the section shelf is not selected in the section shelf two-stage mode, a route assembling operation in the section shelf 2.5-stage mode is performed (step 107).

The details of the contents of the route assembling operation in the section shelf 2.5-stage mode will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows first to third supply / accumulation means 1,
It is a figure which shows the number of the accumulation part in the accumulation mode of 1 ', 1 ", and the accumulation part of the 1st supply accumulation means is S from the right end of the paper surface.
1a, S1b... S1o, S1p, and the accumulation section of the second supply accumulation means is S1′a, S1′b.
1'o, S1'p, and the accumulation section of the third supply accumulation means is S1 "a, S1" b... S1 "o, S1" from the right end of the paper.
Let p. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the route assembling operation in the section shelf 2.5-stage mode.

First, the first supply / accumulation means 1 is set to the supply mode, and the second supply / accumulation means 1 'and the third supply / accumulation means 1 "are set to the accumulation mode (procedure 150). The route information indicating the correspondence between the delivery order of each delivery person and the sorting information 20 is input from the input means 71, and 0 to 9 are assigned to each accumulation unit of the second supply accumulation means 1 '(procedure 15).
1). In addition, the correspondence between each accumulation unit and 0 to 9 is allocated as follows. 0 ... S1'a, 1 ... S1'b, 2 ... S1 '
d, 3 ... S1'e, 4 ... S1'g, 5 ... S1'h, 6 ...
S1'j, 7 ... S1'k, 8 ... S1'm, 9 ... S1 '
n. In addition, 0 to 9 are assigned to each accumulation unit of the third supply accumulation means 1 '(procedure 152). In addition, the correspondence between each accumulation unit and 0 to 9 is allocated as follows. 0 ... S1 "a, 1
... S1 "c, 2 ... S1" d, 3 ... S1 "f, 4 ... S1"
g, 5 ... S1 "i, 6 ... S1" j, 7 ... S1 "l, 8 ...
S1 "m, 9 ... S1" o. When this setting is completed, next, the paper sheet 2 to be subjected to the route assembly is manually inserted into the first supply accumulation means 1 in the supply mode (step 153).

Then, after the sheets are separated one by one by the separating means 4 (procedure 154), the thickness of the letter is measured and stored by the thickness detecting means 21 (procedure 155). It is read and stored (procedure 156). Here, as shown in FIG. 10, the paper sheets 2 are transported in the direction of the arrow A toward the separation means 4 in the first supply and accumulation means 1, and are separated one by one by the first separation means 4. Is transported in the direction of arrow B.

Next, it is determined whether or not the section information 20 is 500 or more (step 157). If the sorting information 20 is from 500 to 999, it is conveyed to the third supply / accumulating means 1 ", and is sorted and accumulated in a corresponding accumulating section in accordance with one digit of the sorting information 20 (procedures 158 to 159). Sheets 2 whose information 20 is from 000 to 499 are conveyed to the second supply / accumulation means 1 ', and are sorted and accumulated in a corresponding accumulating section in accordance with one digit of the sorting information 20 (procedures 160 to 161). ).

That is, in FIG.
5 'operates according to whether the sorting information 20 is 500 or more, and sorts the paper sheet 2 in the direction of arrow D or in the direction of arrow E. When this procedure 161 is completed and all the fed sheets 2 are accumulated in the second supply accumulating means 1 ′ and the third supply accumulating means 1 ″, as shown in FIG. 2
Of the sorting information 20 from 000 to 49
9, and the third supply / accumulation means 1 ″ accumulates the paper sheets 2 ″ whose sorting information 20 is 500 to 999. In any of the stacking units, the sheets 2 having only one digit of the sorting information 20 are sorted and stacked in each stacking unit.

Next, based on the thickness of the letter stored in step 155 and the sorting information stored in step 156, even when the letter is divided into ten digits and divided into 100 digits, all letters are stored in one supply and accumulation means. It is determined whether accumulation is possible (step 16).
2) If integration is possible, the process proceeds to step 200.

If the integration is not possible, the process proceeds to step 163.
Then, the first supply / accumulation means 1 is switched from the supply mode to the accumulation mode by the mode switching control means 64, and the second supply / accumulation means 1 'is switched from the accumulation mode to the supply mode (step 163). In addition, the correspondence of each accumulation part of the 1st supply accumulation means 1 with 0 to 9 is allocated as follows. 0 ... S1j, 1 ... S1i, 2 ... S1h, 3 ... S1
g, 4 ... S1f, 5 ... S1e, 6 ... S1d, 7 ... S1
c, 8 ... S1b, 9 ... S1a.

Then, the sheets 2 'in the second supply / accumulation means 1' are separated again (procedure 164) and the sorting information is read by the reading means 9 (procedure 165). This time, section information 2
Sorting is performed according to the tenth digit of 0, and sorting is performed in the stacking unit in the first supply / stacking unit 1 (steps 166 to 166).
67). FIG. 11 shows a state in which the division up to this point has been completed.

When the sorting of all the sheets 2 'in the second supply and stacking means 1' is completed and the sheets are stacked in the corresponding stacking section,
The mode switching control means 64 switches the first supply and accumulation means 1 from the accumulation mode to the supply mode, and switches the second supply and accumulation means 1 'from the supply mode to the accumulation mode (step 168). In addition, the correspondence of each accumulation unit of the second supply accumulation means 1 'with 0 to 9 is allocated as follows. 0
... S1'a, 1 ... S1'b, 2 ... S1'c, 3 ... S1 '
d, 4 ... S1'e, 5 ... S1'f, 6 ... S1'g, 7 ...
S1'h, 8 ... S1'i, 9 ... S1'j.

Then, the sheet 2 in the first supply / accumulation means 1 is separated again (step 169), and the sorting information is read by the reading means 9 (step 170). This time the classification information 20
Are sorted according to the digit of 100, and are sorted and stacked in the stacking section in the second supply stacking means 1 '(steps 171 to 171).
172). When the procedure 172 is completed, the classification information 20
000 to 499, the sorting of the delivery route is completed. FIG. 12 shows this state.

Next, the first supply / accumulation means 1 is switched from the supply mode to the accumulation mode by the mode switching control means 64, and the third supply / accumulation means 1 "is switched from the accumulation mode to the supply mode (step 173). In addition, the correspondence of each accumulation part of the 1st supply accumulation means 1 with 0 to 9 is allocated as follows: 0 ... S1j, 1 ... S1i, 2 ... S1h, 3
... S1g, 4 ... S1f, 5 ... S1e, 6 ... S1d, 7 ...
S1c, 8 ... S1b, 9 ... S1a.

Then, the sheets 2 "whose sorting information 20 is from 500 to 999, which are accumulated in the third supply accumulating means 1", are again separated one by one (step 174). The sorting information is read (step 175). Since these sheets 2 ″ have already been sorted by one digit by step 159, they are sorted by ten digits, and are sorted and stacked in the stacking unit in the first supply stacking unit 1 ( Procedures 176 to 177) Fig. 13 shows a state in which the division up to this point has been completed.

When the sorting of all the sheets 2 "in the third supply / stacking means 1" is completed and the sheets are stacked in the corresponding stacking section,
The mode switching control means 64 switches the first supply and accumulation means 1 from the accumulation mode to the supply mode, and switches the third supply and accumulation means 1 "from the supply mode to the accumulation mode (procedure 178). Correspondences of each of the accumulation units of the accumulation means 1 ″ and 0 to 9 are assigned as follows. 0
... S1 "a, 1 ... S1" b, 2 ... S1 "c, 3 ... S1"
d, 4 ... S1 "e, 5 ... S1" f, 6 ... S1 "g, 7 ...
S1 "h, 8 ... S1" i, 9 ... S1 "j.

Then, the sheets 2 in the first supply / accumulation means 1 are separated again one by one (step 179), and the sorting information is read by the reading means 9 (step 180). This time, the sorting is performed according to the 100 digit of the sorting information 20, and the sorting is performed in the stacking section in the third supply / stacking means 1 '''' (steps 181 to 182).

In FIG. 14, the procedure up to step 182 is completed, and the sheet information 2 whose section information 20 is 500 to 999 is displayed.
In a state where the rearrangement has been completed. Here, first, the paper sheet 2 whose sorting information 20 is from 000 to 499 is taken out from the second feeding / accumulating means 1 ', and then the paper sheet 2 whose sorting information 20 is from 500 to 999 from the third feeding / accumulating means 1 ". If the leaves 2 are taken out and connected, all the sheets 2 from 000 to 999 are sorted in the order of the delivery route (procedure 1).
83).

As described above, the route assembling operation in the case where all letters cannot be accumulated in one supply accumulating means automatically performs five sorting operations.

Next, the operation in a case where all the letters can be accumulated in one supply accumulating means will be described with reference to FIG.

The first supply / accumulation means 1 is switched from the supply mode to the accumulation mode by the mode switching control means 64, and the second supply / accumulation means 1 'and the third supply / accumulation means 1' are switched from the accumulation mode to the supply mode. (Step 200). In addition, each accumulation unit of the first supply accumulation means 1 and 0
Are assigned as follows. 0 ... S1j, 1
... S1i, 2 ... S1h, 3 ... S1g, 4 ... S1f, 5 ...
S1e, 6 ... S1d, 7 ... S1c, 8 ... S1b, 9 ... S
1a.

Then, the sheets 2 "of the stacking unit S1" a in the third supply / stacking means 1 ", that is, the sheets 2" of which the digit of 0 is 0 are separated one by one again (procedure). 201) The sorting information is read by the reading means 9 (procedure 202). Since these sheets 2 ″ have already been sorted by one digit by step 159, they are sorted by ten digits, and are sorted and stacked in the stacking unit in the first supply stacking unit 1 ( Step 20
3-204). Whether or not the sorting and stacking of the sheets in the stacking unit S1 ″ a has been completed may be determined from the stored sorting information 20 or may be determined using a detector (not shown).

Next, the sheets 2 'of the stacking units S1'a and S1'b in the second feeding and stacking means 1', that is, the sheets 2 'of which the digit of 0 is 0 and 1 are again set to 1 Separate each sheet (Step 20
5) The sorting information is read by the reading means 9 (procedure 20).
6). These sheets 2 ′ are already 1 by step 161.
Since the division of the digits is completed, the division is performed by the digit of 10 and the accumulation is performed in the accumulation section in the first supply accumulation means 1 (steps 207 to 208).

Then, it is determined whether or not a letter to be separated remains on the second and third supply / accumulation means (procedure 20).
9). At first, the process naturally returns to the procedure 201, and the stacking unit S1 "c, S in the third supply / stacking means 1"
1 "d paper sheet 2", that is, paper sheet 2 "whose digit of 0 is 1 and 2 is separated one by one again (procedure 201) and the sorting information is read by the reading means 9 (procedure 202). (Steps 203 to 204) Separately accumulate the sheets in the accumulating sections in the first supply accumulating means 1. Next, the sheets 2 of the accumulating sections S1'd and S1'e in the second supplying accumulating means 1 '. ′, Ie
The sheets 2 ′ of which the digit of 0 is 2 and 3 are separated one by one again (procedure 205), the sorting information is read by the reading means 9 (procedure 206), and stored in the stacking section in the first supply / stacking means 1. Each is separately collected (procedures 207 to 208).

The above-described series of processing is performed up to the sheets stacked in the stacking section S1 ″ o of the third supply stacking means. FIG. 15 shows a state where the sorting up to this point is completed. By alternately separating the paper sheets accumulated in the third supply accumulation means 1 "and the second supply accumulation means 1 ',
When the classification information 20 is from 000 to 499 and from 500 to 9
In the case of 99, the paper sheets divided and accumulated by the second supply accumulation means 1 'and the third supply accumulation means 1 "are classified information 2
It can be handled in the same manner as paper sheets in which the zero digit of 0 is continuously accumulated from 0 to 9.

Then, the accumulation section S of the third supply accumulation means
If the sorting and stacking up to the sheets stacked at 1 "o are completed, the process proceeds to step 210.

The first supply / accumulation means 1 is switched from the accumulation mode to the supply mode by the mode switching control means 64, and the second supply / accumulation means 1 'is switched from the supply mode to the accumulation mode (step 210). In addition, the correspondence of each accumulation unit of the second supply accumulation means 1 'with 0 to 9 is allocated as follows. 0 ... S1'a, 1 ... S1'b, 2 ... S1'c,
3 ... S1'd, 4 ... S1'e, 5 ... S1'f, 6 ... S
1'g, 7 ... S1'h, 8 ... S1'i, 9 ... S1'j.

Then, the sheets 2 in the first supply / accumulation means 1 are again separated one by one (step 211), and the sorting information is read by the reading means 9 (step 212). This time, the sorting is performed according to the 100 digit of the sorting information 20, and the sorting is performed in the stacking section in the second supply / stacking means 1 '(steps 213 to 214). When the procedure 214 is completed, the sorting of the delivery routes of the paper sheets 2 whose sorting information 20 is from 000 to 999 is completed. FIG. 16 shows this state.

As described above, the route assembling operation in the case where all the letters can be accumulated in one supply accumulating means automatically performs three sorting operations.

Although it is possible to sort the sheets supplied by the above-described operation, in order to realize such an operation, the sheets accumulated in the respective accumulating units of the supply accumulating means 1 are accumulated. It is necessary to transport the paper sheets to the separation mechanism 4. However, as explained in FIG.
Since each stacking unit has the partition 30 and the presser 37, for example, in order to transfer the paper sheets stacked in the stacking unit S1 in FIG. 3 to the separation unit 4 on the right side in the figure, the partition 30 and the presser 37 are used. It is necessary to move the sheet 37 to the separation mechanism 4 together, or to move the paper sheet 2 to the separation mechanism 4 by some other means by retreating the partition 30 and the presser 37 from the inside of the supply accumulating means 1. The configuration and operation of the mode switching unit that supplies the sheets 2 accumulated in the supply accumulation unit 1 in the accumulation mode to the separation unit 4 after switching the supply accumulation unit 1 to the supply mode are described in, for example, Reference 1. It is omitted here.

As described above, when the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention is used, the number of sorting necessary for sorting is controlled according to the amount of letters to be sorted (number and thickness), and the amount of letters is reduced. When the number is small, the number of sorting is automatically reduced, and the time required for reordering paper sheets can be shortened.

In the present embodiment, in the first sorting operation, as shown in FIG. 10, letters which are not collected between letters are accumulated (for example, S1'c, S1 ').
f, etc.), which was performed in order to easily and alternately separate the letters accumulated in the second supply accumulation means and the letters accumulated in the third supply accumulation means. If alternate separation is possible, it is not necessary to provide an accumulation unit that does not accumulate.

In this embodiment, it is determined whether letters to be rearranged can be accumulated in one supply accumulating means in accordance with the number and thickness of letters, but the average thickness of letters is assumed. Alternatively, the determination may be made only based on the number of letters.

Further, in the present embodiment, the operator selects the section shelf mode, and
Although letters are rearranged in the divided mode and the divided shelf 2.5 mode, it is not out of the intention of the present invention to always operate only in the divided shelf 2.5 stage mode.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, sorting can be performed at an optimum number of sorting according to the number of sheets to be sorted, so that a high-speed sheet sorting apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a paper sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the sorting information and the reading means constituting the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating an example of a configuration of a stacking unit and a sorting unit that constitute the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a sheet sorting operation;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a paper sheet sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of an example of a route assembling operation in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing numbers of stacking units in a stacking mode of a feeding stacking unit in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a sorting shelf 2.5 in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the route assembly operation | movement by a step mode.

FIG. 9 shows a sorting shelf 2.5 in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.
It is a flowchart which shows an example of the route assembly operation | movement by a step mode.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a sorting operation in the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing another example of the sorting operation in the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the sorting operation in the paper sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing another example of the sorting operation in the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the sorting operation in the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the sorting operation in the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the sorting operation in the sheet sorting apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Supply accumulation means, 2 ... Paper sheets, 4 ... Separation means, 7, 1
7 ... conveying means, 8 ... posture correcting means, 9 ... reading means, 12
... bottom plate, 13 ... first sorting means, 15 ... gate means, 18 ... reject box, 19 ... operation panel, 2
0: Classification information, 21: Letter thickness detection means, 30: Partition, 31: Belt, 35: Switching gate, 40-49
... Acquisition unit, 60 ... Control means, 61 ... Reading means control means,
Reference numeral 64: mode switching control means, 66: distribution control means, 67: separation means control means, 68: supply means control means, 71: sorting information input means, 72: letter thickness taking-in means, 73: sorting shelf selection signal taking Means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A stacking mode in which a plurality of sheets stacked on another sorting shelf are stacked while being sorted, and a supply mode for supplying a plurality of stacked sheets to another sorting shelf. When a plurality of sorting shelves are provided and the order of the stacked sheets is rearranged, one of the plurality of sorting shelves is in the stacking mode and the other sorting shelves are in the supply mode. Leaf sorter.